Happy reunion: Poussey clings to owner Sandrine in the Dover vet's surgery after the cat was found wandering on a P&O ferry

Talk about an entente cordiale! An English policeman reunited a French cat with its family after it boarded a ferry to Dover – and was almost mistaken for a stray and put down.

But thanks an extraordinary cross-Channel police investigation – and an remarkable tale of kindness – Poussey is now back at home in France.

The three-year-old tabby was seized by port police after he was found wandering on the car deck of a P&O ferry.

Two days earlier, he had gone missing from the home of Sandrine Foehr in Le Havre, sending her two children frantic with worry.

Mrs Foehr and her husband Martial, both 46, took Poussey in two years ago after he strayed from his original home and Charlotte, 14, and Louis, six, begged to keep her.

Back in Dover, PC David Palmer had taken charge of Poussey and discovered he was from Le Havre after searching for his microchip.

But it looked as though Poussey would have to be put down after he discovered the address belonged to Poussey’s previous owners who had moved away.

PC Palmer, who was becoming rather fond of Poussey, said: ‘He was effectively on Death Row. If an animal arrives without a pet passport, it becomes a rabies danger and must be put down or go into quarantine.

‘I contacted 13 sanctuaries, catteries and charities in Kent and, although most offered him a home, the £500 quarantine and veterinary fees would have been an absolute killer.’

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Then a stroke of luck. Dover vet Jeremy Stattersfield took pity on Poussey and gave him the necessary injections, issued a pet passport and arranged for him be to housed at local quarantine catteries – all free of charge.

Meanwhile, PC Palmer arranged for French border police to leave a note on the door at the cat’s registered address.

Stowaway: Poussey was found by port police wandering on a P&O ferry

By sheer luck, the Foehr family decided to check whether Poussey had returned to his original home.

Mrs Foehr found the note with the telephone number of the Dover port police. Bemused, she rang to say: ‘That’s my cat! But what is he doing in England?’

Office worker Mrs Foehr and her children travelled to Dover where they were finally reunited with him at Mr Stattersfield’s surgery.

Daughter Charlotte said: ‘We are so grateful to David and Jeremy. We have another cat and a dog at home but Poussey was extra special. After all, it was he who chose to come and live with us.’